Report on Salmon Fisheries. 



v 



Of the three quinquennial averages, the second shows a decline of 

 737 tons from the first, and the last a decline of 906 tons. The 

 details are set forth in the accompanying table, while the situation 

 may be seen at a glance from the chart of curves also given. The 

 low condition of the salmon supply already referred to in previous 

 reports shows no sign of recovery under existing conditions. 



Mr. Calderwood in his report draws special attention to the state 

 of matters. We have repeatedly complained against the absence of 

 returns showing the numbers of fish taken in all Scottish districts, 

 and the consequent impossibility of obtaining an adequate view of the 

 condition of the salmon fisheries placed under our supervision. The 

 Inspector has drawn together the various returns which were given in 

 evidence before the Eoyal Commission on Salmon Fisheries under the 

 chairmanship of Lord Elgin, and has added a few returns he has been 

 able to secure otherwise, confining himself to such returns as show 

 salmon and grilse separately. The totals just submitted by us as 

 representing, so far as we have information, the salmon marketed from 

 the whole of Scotland in recent years, are clearly very far below the 

 totals which were commonly reached in a single district some fifty to 

 seventy years ago. Mr. Calderwood indeed refers to still earlier totals 

 from the Tweed showing that the takes of grilse alone in that district, 

 covering a period of twenty years in the early part of last century, 

 never sank below a figure fully thirty times as great as the maximum 

 take for the whole country shown in the above chart of curves, and 

 on occasion was more than a hundred times as great. He further 

 shows that in leading salmon fishery districts the ratio between grilse 

 and salmon has very greatly declined, and he emphasises the need, in 

 his opinion, of paying more attention to the part grilse play in the 

 economy of our salmon fisheries. Decline always seems first shown 

 in the stock of grilse, and is later echoed in the decline of the adult 

 fish. Mr. Calderwood considers, therefore, that to secure a better 

 supply of salmon it is necessary to catch fewer grilse. 



Reports from Districts. 



The Inspector has received reports from 33 salmon fishery districts. 

 As regards general statements of the condition of the fisheries, these 

 bear out the statements we have just made of the low state of the 

 salmon supply. The districts of South Esk, Bervie, Ness, Kyle of 

 Sutherland, Leven and Clyde, Nith. and Annan are reported as 

 improved or above the average. It is noteworthy that in South Esk, 

 Ness, and Kyle of Sutherland netting in narrow waters has been 

 reduced, and that in the case of the others (except the Bervie, which 

 is a coast fishery) pollutions of a serious kind have been reduced. 



The assessable rental in the districts referred to, excepting the Awe, 

 from which no statement of rental comes, is £121,521. The condition 

 of rental in five leading districts is seen in the accompanying table. 

 The high figure is attributable to recent increase in sporting value. 

 Tweed and Tay show records. 



[Table. 



